Viable Egg Answer from Ma. Div. of Marine Fisheries

[mooncusser]

GBOUTDOORS, you are arguing a completely different point. If you need to see the scientific papers regarding fecundity and egg viability in order to believe the summaries and conclusions, you should read the PDFs that Labrax and I posted and then look at all the references they cited. Those references are all scientific papers. Start with Googling "Zastrow et al. 1989" and "Monteleone and Houde 1990" and read those papers if you want.

What you are hanging your hat on, and I suspect is at the root of the long-held misconception of older stripers losing fecundity, is the notion of Spawning Potential. Spawning potential is a made-up figure that some scientists like to use to try to get their population dynamic theories to work. In the real-world of fisheries management, it has no place. If you allow Spawning Potential to figure into your analysis, you would look at a 15-pound striper next to a 40-pounder and correctly conclude that the 15-pounder has greater spawning potential than the 40. That may be true, until a seal eats the 15-pounder you were looking at. I have the potential to become the world's richest man, but my potential is less than my 6 year old's simply because he has, in theory, longer to work at it. Doesn't mean that I won't win the lottery tomorrow or that he may decide to go to art school and make $16k for his entire career.

[GBOUTDOORS]

Moon you are right but the guy lets the 15# go and keeps the 40# to take on a road show to all the guys and eight dif. bait shops to weight in so it does not breed either. Guess we are doomed either way.

Ps Labrax pm sent let me know if you new him.

[labrax]

GBOUTDOORS,

Responded to the PM - thanks. While we may not agree, at least we are doing it civily. As I mentioned in my PM and previously - I think we are coming at this slightly differently which is leading to the difference in opinion over what is the more valuable fish. Our commong ground is that we are interested enough in the resource to add our info and opinions to see that it continues for our kids and grandkids.

[schoolie monster]

Not sure if this was mentioned, but aside from the viability of the eggs, a 40 or 50# fish is obviously a genetically superior fish to have grown to that size and survived a harsh environment.

In nature, that is how a species stays strong. Stronger males, whether it be deer, grizzlies, wolves, etc. do most of the mating. In fish, the big females are your primary breeders. We all know that.

Passing on that strong genetic makeup is key to any species.

IMO... the worst reason to kill a fish is to show it off. Act like you've been there before... a picture says a thousand words. But its just an opinion.